-LRB- Health.com -RRB- -- Some children and teens are more likely than their peers to become addicted to the Internet , and a new study suggests it 's more likely to happen if kids are depressed , hostile , or have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or social phobia .

Teenagers who use the Internet so much that it interferes with everyday life and decision-making may be addicted .

Although an Internet addiction is not an official diagnosis , signs of a potential problem include using the Internet so much for game playing or other purposes that it interferes with everyday life and decision-making ability . -LRB- The diagnosis is being considered for the 2012 edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , the `` bible '' of mental ailments published by the American Psychiatric Association -RRB- .

Past research suggests that 1.4 percent to 17.9 percent of adolescents are addicted to the Internet , with percentages higher in Eastern nations than in Western nations , according to the study published Monday in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine .

The Internet as therapy

In the survey of 2,293 seventh-grade students in Taiwan , 10.8 percent developed an Internet addiction , which was determined by a high score on an Internet addiction scale . Definitions vary , but an Internet addiction usually includes symptoms such as spending a lot of time on the Internet -LRB- especially more time than intended -RRB- , an inability to cut back on usage , a preoccupation with online activities , and symptoms of withdrawal such as anxiety , boredom , or irritability after a few days of not going online .

The researchers from Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital , in Taiwan , followed the youngsters for two years and found that ADHD and hostility were linked to Internet addiction in children in general . In girls -- but not boys -- depression and social phobia also predicted problems . Health.com : Therapy that can help depression

Boys were at a higher risk of Internet addiction than girls , and those who used the Internet for more than 20 hours a week , every day , or for online gaming , were at higher risk as well .

Michael Gilbert , a senior fellow at the Center for the Digital Future at the University of Southern California 's Annenberg School for Communication , says the findings were no surprise .

`` The study 's indication that children who are hyperactive or diagnosed ADHD are finding an outlet on the Web makes such perfect sense , '' he says , because those children crave the constant stimulation of fast-paced video games and interactive social networks . Health.com : What your teen needs to know about sex

Kids with depression , anger issues , or social problems also turn to the Internet as therapy , adds Gilbert , who was not involved in the study . `` They can take on an avatar or a different identity , and can contact other kids with the same problems and social inadequacies ; they do n't have to function in conventional social ways . ''

And while Gilbert is not surprised by the research -- he regularly studies the impact of the Internet and cell phone usage on family relationships -- he says it 's important that it is given the attention it deserves .

`` I do n't get the feeling when I talk to therapists that they really understand the concept of addiction to the Internet , '' he says . `` They think more in terms of pornography sites or gambling sites specifically , but Internet addiction itself is not fully understood yet by the therapeutic community . ''

What parents , doctors , and teachers can do

Internet addiction may be not as widespread in the U.S. -- or at least not as well recognized -- as in Asian countries . In 2008 , for example , a Chinese survey showed that more than four million teenagers spend more than six hours a day online . Health.com : How to care for someone who is suicidal

But if at-risk children -- such as those identified in the Taiwanese study -- are given sufficient time and exposure without careful monitoring , Internet addiction could easily become one of the most chronic childhood diseases in America , says Dr. Dimitri A. Christakis of the Center for Child Health , Behavior , and Development , in Seattle .

Our culture practically mandates time online , he says , with Wi-Fi connections in coffee shops and BlackBerries and iPhones that allow Internet access almost anywhere . `` It would be as if we mandated that everyone drink two beers every day or everyone gamble for an hour every day , '' says Christakis .

Internet addiction among younger generations may often go unnoticed , however , because parents and pediatricians themselves are using the Web more than they 'd like . Health.com : Health hazards hidden in college dorms

Since adolescents can not easily avoid computers , treatment for addiction can not simply involve abstaining from the Internet , says Christakis . Parents , educators , and medical professionals need to identify high-risk children early on and monitor their Internet usage to prevent problem behavior from forming .

Time on the Internet needs to be monitored as well , especially for children who may be at high risk for addiction because of depression , ADHD , or social problems , says Christakis .

`` You ca n't tell a kid never to use the Internet the way you 'd tell an alcoholic never to have a drink again , '' he adds . `` But parents need to be thinking about what types of Internet or online gaming are particularly addictive . Ones that allow for continuous , real-time feedback are particularly risky . ''

Gilbert says that families should strive to make the Internet a healthy part of their home life . `` Putting the computer in a very public place , like the hallway , can integrate the Internet into normal life , rather than it becoming something you go off and do in secret , '' he says . Health.com : I 'm bipolar and struggle with addiction

Teachers and health-care professionals should also take the potential for Internet addiction seriously , according to Christakis , who cowrote an editorial published with the study . `` Our intention in raising this concern is not to be alarmist but rather to alert pediatricians to what might become a major public health problem for the United States in the 21st century , '' he writes .

The National Science Council of Taiwan funded the study .

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Copyright Health Magazine 2009

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Study found boys were at a higher risk of Internet addiction than girls

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Doctor : Treatment for addiction can not involve simply abstaining from the Internet

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Internet addiction may be not as widespread in the U.S. as in Asian countries

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It could become one of the most chronic childhood diseases in America , doctor says